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I'm an international sales speaker/coach and I write about business constantly but hardly ever make the time to write the personal essays and fiction that are close to my heart. I signed up for Jen’s retreat as it was the perfect opportunity to learn from her gentle yet powerful style and also to make time for my own writing. OMG &em; it was incredible! She really inspired a ton of new thoughts about writing, great exercises and it was absolutely worth the investment. My writing is on fire now!

Are you longing for space and time to…

…get up close and personal with your story?

…step away from daily responsibilities and distractions so you can finally watch, listen, write, and reflect?

…be present to the kind of magic that surfaces when someone else takes the helm for a while so you can actually relax, refuel, and take in the scenery?

How about doing that:

at the coast,

with your own private room,

in a beautiful house,

with delicious dinners lovingly prepared for you to enjoy,

with a small group of other wild, wondrous creatures tending to their own stories?

I attend retreats with Jen Violi as often as I can because she creates an environment that is the perfect combination of tough and love; focused and structured to please my accountable, fierce adult self who meets her writing goals….and nurturing and nourishing to safely bring my inner creative child out to play. I come out of her retreats with renewed energy and inspiration, and often, new work.

If you are full of emphatic Yeses, if you are ready and willing to dive deep, seep in the salty quiet, and surface occasionally for rich conversation and playful relief, then you are invited to experience the wonders of a Story Watch Writing Retreat.

This retreat is designed to be a sanctuary for you and your story, with significant dedicated quiet/private time, as well as intentional, magical group sessions, and shared dinnertimes to let off steam, laugh, and enjoy the company of other people who are equal parts serious and silly when it comes to creating.

Why Story Watch Writing Retreat? Well, as with a whale-watching trip, this retreat is about traveling out into the vast mystery, away from dry land, and being present so our wild stories can reveal themselves to us, on their turf. It’s not about hunting down your story or demanding it come out and play. It’s about intentionally positioning yourself so you can watch and listen, so your story can show you its contours and capabilities, its beauty and power, how high it can jump, and how deep it can dive.

And yes, four of my favorite things are stories, whales, writing and retreating. So, there’s that.

Oregon Coast Story Watch

Ready for a ritual

Maui Retreat

Sanctuary

Supplies to nourish body, mind, and soul

Sooke, BC Story Watch

Your Story Watch registration includes:

Guaranteed story sightings

A long weekend at the ocean

Your own private room

3 inspiration-laden, facilitated group sessions to support your story-watching time

Plenty of private, quiet time to create at your own rhythm

30 minute coaching call prior to the retreat, to set intentions, strategize, and get some preliminary support for you and your story

Jen, I adore you. Plain and simple. You find the words that are lost in space and in my heart when I can't find them. You ask the best questions and I LOVE your writing prompts.

I came to the Story Watch Retreat because I knew there were some words that needed to be teased out and nourished. That is exactly what I got, plus your undivided attention and love. You make it easy to tell the story or sentences that want to come out because of your playful heart and the generosity that oozes out of you.

What you bring:

Snacks or beverages to hoard or share, depending on your needs (sometimes the salt and vinegar chips have to be just for you)

Your investment: $734 USD

I would love for you to join us May 19-22, 2016 for this next Story Watch Writing Retreat in magical Manzanita, on the Oregon Coast. Together, we’ll create a sanctuary for our selves and stories and spend a nurturing & productive weekend.

To be the first to know when future registrations open, just sign up here.

Recharge. Regroup. Reconnect.

DIY Writing Retreats

How does a DIY retreat work?

Most people benefit from retreat time. Many of us sorely need it—that is, a breather, a recharge, a sanctuary in which we can reset.

Still, you can’t always get away for a long weekend or more. Sometimes the farthest you can go for a retreat is down the hall to your own living room. And the most time you have is about an hour. Although you’d love to do something to feed the retreat need and fit it into those possible parameters, you might not have a clue how to do it.

Never fear. I have about twenty-five years of retreat planning and facilitating under my belt, so I’ve got you covered. These DIY retreats are lovingly crafted for you, by me, to use in whatever way best serves you. You can lengthen or shorten them, spend more or less time on particular activities, and wear whatever pajamas you want.

When you order a DIY retreat, for only $17, you’ll receive:

Access to an audio welcome and opening meditation

A PDF of an easy-to-follow schedule, what supplies you’ll need, and some additional recommendations to make your retreat a nourishing and renewing experience

Writing prompts to clear the path for your words to flow through

A creative and supportive way to explore a particular theme through writing and reflection

I've had the pleasure of engaging in both Jen's in-person writing retreats and recently her DIY at-home retreat. Given my positive experience with the former, I wasn't sure how the latter would unfold. But I found a quiet hour for myself to write, wrapped a wool scarf around my neck, listened to Jen's recorded voice purr in my ear, and got to work writing for an hour. Her guided questions led me to reflect, write and discover a healthy helping of grace and gratitude. This retreat was a good way to bring the year to a close.

Please note: If you and a group of friends, coworkers, or family members want to do one of these retreats together, marvelous! I love shared retreat experiences. I simply ask that you each purchase your own retreat to honor the offering.

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About Jen Violi

Jen Violi is the author of Putting Makeup on Dead People, a BCCB Blue Ribbon Book, and finalist for the Oregon Book Awards. As a mentor, editor, and facilitator, Jen helps writers unleash the stories they’re meant to tell, from blogs to websites to award winning books. Find sanctuary for your story.